SXSW Will Host a Showcase Highlighting Artists From Countries Named in Trump's Muslim Ban

Representation matters.

President Trump's Muslim ban is now halted in court, but it's left many — especially immigrants and members of the Muslim community — feeling understandably targeted. As a response, a new showcase at this year's SXSW Festival is highlighting artists from the countries named in Trump's executive order in a show of solidarity, as FADERreports.

The showcase, called "ContraBanned: #MusicUnites," will take place on March 17th at Austin's Palm Door and features artists from all seven of the nations included in Trump's order: Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. As FADER notes, Ash Koosha, born in Iran, and Faarow, who are Somali-Canadian, are already scheduled to perform, with more artists to be announced.

The event is organized by the advocacy organization Tamizdat, which notes on its page that the ban has been "disastrous for those whose work it is to promote cultural diversity in America," and explains that "arts presenters are reluctant to risk contracting performers from these seven countries, for fear shifting immigration policy could scuttle a long-planned project." Tamizdat will also be working with showcase event and service organization GlobalFest, radio program PRI's The World and PR firm rock paper scissors to pull off the event. All they need is $15,000 to "get the artists to Austin, and to give them a roof over their heads while they are here," which they're raising via Kickstarter.

Although President Trump's Muslim travel ban is right now blocked, this showcase still sends a clear message of resistance. As the showcase organizers note on their Kickstarter page, "only access to other cultures can foster the empathy that is an engine that drives civil society."